Picture-vending machine.



T. R. MOQUILLAN. PICTURE 'VBNDING MACHINE. .LPPLIGATIGN FILED JUNE 15, 190e.

937,949. l 'Patented 0ct.26,19o9. SSHEETS-BHEET 1.

T. R. MOQUILLAN. IICTURE VBNDING MACHINE.v -.APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5, 1906.

937,949. Patented 0@t,26,19o9.

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T. R. MOQUILLAN. PICTURE VENDING MACHINE. APELIOATIOH FILED JUNE 16, 1906.

Patented 0t.26,19o9.

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Fig. 3, is a section of my machine as i coin-chute when the supply of pictures is ex- THOMAS R. MCQUILLA, OF GUYMON, OKLAHOMA.

PICTURE-VENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. v26, 1909.

Application led .Tune 15, 1906. Serial No. 321,862.

To all 'whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS It. MGQUIL- LAN, a resident of Guymon, in the county of Beaver, Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture- Vending Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

y invention relates to vending machines, and has for its objectl the vending of pictures or photographs Aand it consists substantially `in the improvements hereinafter de- The invention has reference more especially to vending machines of that class or type in which the delivery7 of the articles and the like is effected through the instrumentality of devices which are normally locked against movement, but which are rendered capable of being operated on deposit in the machine of a coin of predetermined weight or size.

The principal object of the invention is to provide simpliiiedand reliable operating dcvice for ejecting a picture each time a coin is deposited in the machine, and also provide means whereby on exhaustion of the stock or supply of pictures in the machine, the coin slots or entrance will be automatically closed so as to prevent deposits of coin at times when no equivalent therefor would be obtained from the machine.

The invention also has for its object to simplify the construction and organization of the elements of the machine, to reduce the number of parts, and to provide positively operating devices whereby but a single picture or article may be delivered for each coin deposited in the machine.

The above and additional object I attain in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1, is a front elevation of my machine. Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of same. seen from the front, discharging a picture. Fig. 4, is a hopper which contains the pictures within said machine. Fig. 5, a coin-chute in engagement with the ejector, as seen from the rear ofthe machine. Fig. 6, a front view of same. Fig. 7, the picture ejector. Fig. 8, a portion of the machine, showing the mechanism for automatically closing` the -hausted Fig. 9, the construction of the door of the cabinet when open.

It will be understood that my machine may be constructed with as many compartments as desired. In the present instance I have shown my machine in triplicate, each compartment being exactly alike, and in descrlibing my machine I will describe one, on y. y

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings by the designating characters thereon. Figure 1, represents a suitable cabinet in which is placed the; mechanism, said cabinet being practically rectangular and is divided into three compartments, as clearly illustrated in said figure. The front of the cabinet is composed of three section viz. 2, 3 and 4. In these sections are rectangular openings 5,v which are provided with glass. Behind these glasses are placed pictures, the saine being samples of those to be vended.

A hopper 6, (Fig. 4) is made of sheet-iron having bends 7, which are pierced to receive screws to screw it within the cabinet 1, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A portion 8, of said hopper is cut away for the reception of the ejector Fig. 7, which ejector will be explained hereinafter. A coin-chute, Fig. 5, is made of sheet-iron the top end 9, thereof being approximately quadrangular, the top portion thereof progressively diminishing to a point 10, and from there on, rectangular, leaving a space within large enough to admit a coin, in one side of said coin-chute are two rectangular openings 11, and 12. 11, is for the purpose of removing papers or the like, that might be maliciously put into the machine, which would avoid the necessity of removing the chute, the opening 12, is to admit the arm 13, in its rotary movement and lto form a stop for said arm. The rear side of said chute is provided with an opening or slot, having substantially the same function as 11, and 12. A rectangular block of wood 15, is transversely positioned lon the chute and rigidly secured thereto by screw nails from within, said nails are inserted through the holes 16, and secure the opposite side of the chute to the block. A flat spring 17, is soldered on to the edge of the chute, the lower end thereof is given a curve as indicated,'the spring is to catch and hold the coin from dropping through the chute when it has descended to the desired point, as illustrated, this spring isa very important .feature ofthe chute as it is necessary to set the spring to the proper tension to allow imperfect coins and slugs to pass through without unlocking the machine and retain those that are right. I accomplish the adjustment of said spring by means of a screw 18, passed through the block-15. It will be seen when the screw is turned through the block the point end thereof will pass between the side of the chute and the spring and force the spring out, thereby allowing a larger coin to pass the end of the spring and viceversa. The top end of the chute is pivotally secured to a rectangular wooden block 19, a flange 20, extends from said chute andV has an oblong opening 21, therein, a screw 22, is passed through said opening 21, into the wooden block 19, it will be seen that the lower end of the chute can be swung back and forth as indicated by the dotted lines 23. By means of the screw-nails 24, the block 19, is secured to the inside wall of the cabinet l, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. A tube 25, is provided with an indent 26. Spirally located on the periphery of said tube are pointed teeth 27 these teeth are set in holes and soldered therein. A round rod 28, is placed in this tube and is held therein by keys 29. A ratchet-wheel is also secured to said rod by a key 31. A thumb-nut 32, having a serrated edge, is keyed to this shaft by a key 33, the other end of this shaft has a reduced extension 34. A bore 35, is made in the rod in which is positioned a round rod 13, which rod is soldered therein. A spring 37, is given a coil and is secured to the inner wall of the cabinet by a screw 38. A screw 39, retains one end thereof to the cabinet. A rectangular piece of iron 40, is soldered to a wire 41, the lower end of which is bent as shown, positioned on the free end of the spring 37. The vertical portion of the rod 41, is movably secured to the cabinet with staples 42, which apparatus I disclaim, the operation of this device will be explained later on.

When it is desired to locate the ejector within the cabinet the thumb-nut 32, is removed and the end of the shaft is passed through the opening 43, in the cabinet, the other end of said shaft is positioned in a bore in the inner wall of the cabinet as indicated by the dotted lines 44. A plate of iron A, (Fig. having a bore B, is placedr on the rod and said plate is secured to the cabinet by means of screws C. The thumbnut 32, is then secured to the rod as desired. In the front of the cabinet is a transverse rectangular opening 45, through which the ejector discharges a picture 46, as seen in Fig. 3.v A plate 47, is secured to the inner wall of the cabinet byl screws 48, parallel and above the opening 45, said plate having oblong perforations 49. The object of this plate isto be so adjusted that only one picture can be discharged at one time regardless in the hopper (Fig. 2), this block holds the pictures down compact and on the pointed teeth 27, and insures engagement. A nail 53, is driven in said block as shown, (Fig. 8), and is to engage'the wire 41, when the pictures are exhausted which pulls down the plate 40., and closes the entrance which prevents the admission of coins when no equivalent can be had. A spiral spring 56, is hooked unto a staple 57, and onto a nail 58', which is driven into the cabinet which keeps the coin-chute in a yielding position. It will be seen by Fig. 6, the screw nail 22, makes a stop limit for said chute. A pawl 58, is pivotally secured to the cabinet in en gagement with the ratchet 30, which prevents turning the teeth 27, backward. A door 59, (Fig. 9) having vertical and transverse bars 60, on its inner side, is hinged to the cabinet. IVhen this door is closed these vertical bars keep the pictures and the block 52, in proper position, while the transverse bars keep the door from warping.

Having described the details of the construction'of my machine I will now proceed to describe its operation generally.

The hopper is filled with cards and the i block 52, placed on top thereof, it will be seen the rear port-ion of the cards rest on the ejector points 27. (Fig. 2.) It is obvious when the ejector is rotated the'points will engage the lower picture in the hopper and thereby push it outV of the transverse rectangular opening 45, as illustrated in Fig. 3, when the operator can pull it out of the machine at which time another card will drop down and come in contact withr the` ejector points'. When one picture is discharged the arm 13 rests on the lower portion of the coin-chute 9, as seen in Fig. 6. vWhen a picture is wanted a coin is dropped in the coin-chute and it falls down and rests on arm 13. The operator moves the thumbnut 32, against the directionindicated by the arrow which raises the arm and coin up until the arm comes from under the coin when the coin drops down behind the arm, as seen in Fig. 5. It will be noted pawl 58, is so positioned that it will allow the ratchety 30, to turn backward a certain distance, also the shaft 28, to move in the indent 26, in the tube, the object is to allow the tube to remain stationary under the picture while the arm is rising up to get against thecoin,

The operator will turn the thumb-nut in the direction of the arrow which will bear the coin down and out of the chute. The coin keeping between the arm and the chute until it gets out at which time the spring 56, will pull the chute back in the position shown in Fig. 6, and will not allow the arm to rotate further until another coin is deposited in the machine. When the pictures are practically out of the machine the nail 53, in the block 52, engages the wire 41, and pulls it down and closes the coin receptacle 4A.

It is obvious that many changes and modifications involving mechanical skill may be made without departing from my invention, hence I do not restrict myself to the precise details of constructions set forth but con- Sider myselil at liberty to make such slight changes and modifications as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a vending machine, the combination of a coin chute, an ejector, an ejector operating device including a coin engaging member normally engaging the chute and prevented from ejecting movement thereby, means preventing movement of the ejector in a direction reverse to ejecting movement,-

and means admitting of such reverse movement of the ejector operating device but independently of the ejector, so that the coinengaging member may be disengaged from the chute and engaged with a coin therein.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a chute, an ejector, an ejector operating device including a coin engaging member normally engaging the chute and prevented from ej ecting movement thereby, means preventing movement of the ejector in a direction reverse to ejecting movement, and a pin and slot connection between the ejector and its operating device admitting of such reverse movement of the ejector operating device but independently of the ejector, so that the coin engaging member may be disengaged from thechute and engaged with a coin therein.

3. In a vending machine, the combination of a movable coin chute having a coin Way, an ejector having a peripheral slot or indenture, an operating device connected with the ejector, a pin projecting from the operating device and movable in the slot of the ejector to permit movement of the operating device independently of the ejector, an arm extending from the operating device and normally engaging the chute to lock said device from ejecting movement, said arm being movable out of engagement with the chute and against a coin therein by moving the operating device independently of the ejector and reverse to ejecting movement,

and means preventing such reverse movement of the ejector.

4. In a vending machine, the combination of a coin chute, having a coin-way, a spring coin engaging member secured to a side of the chute and projecting into the coin-way to support a coin, and an adjusting member mounted on the chute and arranged for movement between the chute and the coin engaging member, for adjusting the position of the latter.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS R. MGQUILLAN.

lVitnesses t C. E. FERREN, L. STEINBGKEL. 

